Brewer for coffee



J. L. VIECELI June 26, 1962 BREWER FOR COFFEE Filed April 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. xlbfieph 1.. Vieceiz fliiorncys June 26, 1962 Filed April 15, 1959 J. L. VIECELI 3,040,648

BREWER FOR COFFEE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Joseph 1.. Vileceli M 7 4 /W,

W 19 Z/arneys United States Patent Oil 3,640,648 Fatented June 26, 19fi2 ice My invention relates to brewing devices of the type especially suitable for producing decoctions of coffee, tea, etc., and popularly known on the market as coifeemakers of the so-called percolator type.

More especially, my invention constitutes an improve ment in electrical automatic cofifeemakers of the percolator type having novel means for controlling the strength of the decoction.

Various means have been suggested over a period of many years for controlling the strength of the brew in devices of this general character, involving a variety of principles. Some of these devices vary the period of percolation to a greater or shorter length of time according to the strength desired in the ultimate brew; other devices depend upon temperature control, as by means of an adjustable thermostat. Such devices are subject to various objections, among them being a deterioration of flavor. Furthermore, where temperature control is used to adjust strength of brew, a weak brew is usually too cold for most palates, especially after addition of cream.

According to my invention the st ength of the decoction may be varied by controlling the amount of water.

conducted through the solids which are to be decocted or extracted, as a result of which beverage of highly superior flavor, flavor incident to the use of prior evices, and also maintaining the desired temperature at all strengths.

Various other objects and advantages will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating certain preferred embodimerits of my invention, t

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an electrical automatic brewer of the domestic type embodying my invention, certain parts being cut away in order more clearly to illustrate the construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale of the upper part of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 33'of FIG. 2;

HS. 4 is a similar section taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a coffee brewer embodying another embodiment of my invention, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating still another embodiment of my invention, with the basket portion indicated in dotdash lines.

The numeral 10 indicates the side wall of a domestic coffeemaker of the type contemplated by my invention, said side wall being generally cylindrical and defining a liquid container 13 In the 'base portion 12 is housed a suitable electrical heating element (not shown), the heat being concentrated according to standard practice in the center portion, whereby upon closing the circuit boiling is initiated almost instantly within the so-called pump element carried at the base of a tubular stem 16, element 15 normally resting on the bottom of container 13 and directly over the heating element. The pump element may be of standard construction and hence need not be shown in detail.

Carried on the upper part of the stem 16 is a perforated basket 2%, also generally cylindrical in shape and lacking the overcooked I am able to obtain a p the upper extremity open at the top, the stem 16 extending substantially above of said basket. The basket is closed by a removable perforated lid 22 (H6. 2) which fits snugly in the top. portion of the basket.

It will be understood that the parts which come in the liquid extract then passing through the perforations of the basket and back into the main body of the liquid within the container 13. v

In accordance with my invention I provide adjustable by-pass means for the water which, in this embodiment, comprises a main lid portion indicated generally by the numeral 3% having a dome portion 32, a more or less cylindrical flange portion 35, and a shoulder portion 37, seating upon the upper extremity of wall 10.

Spaced inwardly from the main lid portion 30 is a secondary lid portion 40 which substantially conforms stem 16 is secured in fluid tight relation tocup 47 by means of a gasket 5'1 of neoprene To the top of the lid 9. suitable knob 53 is rotatably attached, a pointer 54 or the like being carried thereby and fixed on the outside of cured to the knob Within the lid so as to be rotatable this case of inverted therewith is a valve element 55, 1n cup shape, although it might be of passages 57 in the side Wall thereof a peripheral horizontal flange portion 62 thereof. Said passages so are preferably arcuate, corresponding in length With passages 50 and adapted to overlie and mate therewith.

The operation of the device just described will be readily apparent. Before any brewing operation the pointer 54 is set to the desired strength by rotation of knob 53. As in any percolator, when sulficient pressure has been created to actuate the pump at the base of stem 16, hot water will be forced therethrough and discharged from its upper extremity, said water escaping through the passages 57 in valve 55 into the space between the lid elements 32 and 40. A portion of the water will flow down onto the basket lid 22 through the valve openings 50 and 60, the latter having initially been adjusted by rotation of knob 53 in setting pointer 54 so that the effective passages are of a size which will produce a beverage of the desired strength. Obviously, the larger the opening in the valve the more water will be permitted to flow through and act upon the beverage solids in the basket 20 in the course of a decoction period of a given length of time, and hence the greater the extraction and resultant strength of the brew.

The excess water beyond that which has been permitted (FIG. 4.) Suitable to flow through the valve for decoction purposes will, of course, escape through the bypass means provided by the space between lid elements 32 and 40, said excess being thus returned to the main body of liquid within the pot without having contacted the beverage solids within the basket.

Referring now to the'embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the

,percolating mechanism may be the same as in any standard percolator, as described in the previous embodiment, but

having a different form of by-pass. The hollow stem 16, as above, extends through basket portion and slightly above the top thereof. The top of the basket is pro- V basket through passages 86 and 32.

Various changes coming within the spirit of rny invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

7 Hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodivided with an outwardly extending peripheral'fiange 65. A passage 67' is provided in the flange and adjacent portion of the upper side wall 20a of the basket 20.

A removable perforated lid 70 covers the top of the flange 65 of the basket and closely conforming thereto in dimensions and having a vertical shoulder 73 of substantially the same depth as the opening 67 in the top of basket wall 20a. Attached to lid 7!) is a knurled sleeve 75 which snugly but removably'engages the upper extremity of stem 16. The lid 70 is deformed to provide a radial channel 76 communicating with a central well 77 and leading out to passage 67. a

It will be apparent that by manually rotating the, lid 70 by means of the knurled sleeve 75, the effective size of passage 67 may be varied from a point where said passage is fully open to a point where it is completely closed.

It will thus be seen that the amount of water discharged from the top of the-stem 16 in the course of percolation and falling upon the lid 70 may be by-passed in a variable amount to the bottom of the container 13 via the outside of basket 20 or may be permitted to flow entirely through basket 20, thus varying the strength of the'brew in a manner similar to that described in my first embodiment.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 I have provided still another form of by-pass for accomplishing the same result. In this case stem 16, as above, extends through basket 20, discharging liquid upon the top ofthe basket,

a basket 20, said lid having a peripheral fiange72 overlying moms shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

a I claim:

1. A beverage brewer of the percolator type, compris-' ing a container for liquid having a removable lid, a perforated basket for containing solids to be decocted, a hollow stem removably disposed in the container and supporting'said basket in elevated position thereon, pump means at the lower extremity of the stem, a. perforated, removable lid for the basket, said stem having a discharge opening above the level of said basket lid, variable by-pass means for returning to the container a portion of the liquid projected up the stem by said pump without said portion entering the basket, and manually operable means on' the container lid for adjusting said by-pass means whereby the strength of the decoction may be conall of the discharged liquid in this case flowing through the contentsof the basket. In this embodiment, however, a by-pass is provided below the basket for a portion of the fluid.

The stem 16 is provided with a passage 80 communicating with a passage 82 formed in a sleeve 85 rotatably mounted on stem 16 directly below basket '20, being re- 7 tained thereon by suitable means such asbosses 87 formed 91 he rn,

trolled to a predetermined value.

2. A combination as in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means comprises a rotatable element in combination with indicia means, both on the outside of said container lid, for indicating the strengthof the decoction, and the bypass rneans includes means inside the lid keyed to said rotatable element for varying the quantity of by-passed liquid. l

3. A combination as in claim 2, wherein the by-pass means includes aperture means permitting passage of liquid' into the basket and means for varying the effective flow area'of said aperture means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 821,445 Warner May 22, 1906 "945,938 Guterman Ian. 11, 1910 1,160,684 Ball Nov. 16, 1915 2,615,385 Srnail Oct. 28, 1952 Peta-S "'7' 

